Our Story - Tiny Changes

For Scott. Our son, brother & friend.

Marion, Ron, Neil & Grant Hutchison

May 2020

“Scott John Hutchison was our son, brother and friend. He was best known to most as the lead singer and songwriter in the band Frightened Rabbit. Through his music and art Scott made tiny changes that had a big impact. His honesty and openness about his own mental health inspired people from all walks of life. In May 2018, at the age of 36, Scott died by suicide.

Losing someone you love to suicide is one of the hardest things that can happen to a family. The fallout is indescribable and the sense of loss lives with you forever. Yet, strangely, amidst the emotional turmoil of the days and weeks following Scott’s death, we had an overriding feeling that something had to be done. We wanted to ensure that people no longer saw this as the only answer, or, better still, that there should be support in place to help with mental health challenges in the first place. Scott was always honest about his own struggles and we felt sure he would want us to use his voice to make a difference.

We had no idea how we would do this. ‘tiny changes’ were just words in a much loved song that fans of the band would all belt out at gigs but, little by little, our ideas took form and Tiny Changes was born.

We chose to focus on children and young people, in the firm belief that it’s the right of every child to have good mental health and the opportunity to lead happy and fulfilled lives as adults.

With our own personal experience of mental health as our starting point, we set out to build up our understanding of the underlying issues, talking and listening to people ‘in the know’, and soaking up their knowledge and expertise. We discovered that there were so many gaps in the support and recovery of children and young people in the mental health space, and we started to look at how we could help foster change.

The Tiny Changes family is growing all the time. We are supporting worthwhile projects from money raised, we are asking people to tell their stories as we have told ours, and we are pushing the boundaries to raise awareness of what needs to be done to make things better.

Together, we are making a difference. Together, we’ll make tiny changes to earth.”

Hopeful

Brave

Honest

Kind

Scott’s legacy inspired a bold vision; to make young minds feel better. He was the light from which Tiny Changes was born and his personality and core values are at the heart of everything we do. We will be hopeful and brave when faced with challenges, and we will be honest and kind in how we communicate. We are determined to make an impact, and hope to do this in a number of ways.

Listen to people with experience

We don’t have all the answers. We don’t even yet have a full picture of the problem. So we listen to young people themselves, as well as established experts and those involved in existing work being done to help young minds. This is critical to the success of Tiny Changes in improving mental health services and support for young people.

Raise money and distribute it to support innovative ideas

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of everyone who donates money to support Tiny Changes and we continue to work hard to raise more funds. Every penny donated is hard-earned and very much appreciated. This money will be spent wisely; in part by giving grants to people and groups supporting young people’s mental health in Scotland.

Talk to people who can make a difference

We are raising awareness of the importance of children and young people’s mental health. With the general public and also at senior levels of government, speaking truth to power so that we can change the path we are on. We will do this not as a family, or a Board of Trustees, but as a broad community of like-minded individuals, who want something better for the children and young people of today and tomorrow.

Meet the Tiny Changes Team

Our Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall control and governance of our charity. They meet at least four times a year with the CEO and spend time with Wavemakers and team members in our work to help young minds feel better.

We have 8 Trustees – Aine Lovedale (Co-Chair, Manager, National Lottery Community Fund Scotland), Ami Anderson (Co-Chair, Series Producer, STV Children’s Appeal), John Todd (Treasurer, former Partner, Johnston Carmichael), Ali Whitty (Secretary, MD, Erskine Arts), Alan Mahon (Founder, Brewgooder), Amy-Beth Miah (Policy Officer, Activist), Dionne Hossack (Student Nurse, Activist) Marion Hutchison (Scott’s Mum, Founding Trustee.)

Kara Brown, CEO

Kara is the Tiny Changes CEO. The Chief Executive leads the wider Tiny Changes team and works with our Trustees and advisors. Click here to find our more about Kara’s role, hopes for the charity and the young people who inspire her.

Refilwe McCracken, Business Development Consultant

Filo has helped us build Tiny Changes’ foundations – everything from HR, to finance and procurement. She helps ensure the charity is sustainable and equalities driven.

You can find out more about Filo here on our blog.

Tom Johnson, Engagement Administrator

As Tiny Changes’ Engagement Administrator , Tom is the first point of contact for our community of tiny change makers, funded projects, and young Wavemakers.

Get to know him a little better here on our blog.

Sandra Gordon, Fundraising Officer

Sandra is Tiny Changes’ fundraising officer. The fundraising officer is currently working on Trusts & Foundations to help us improve even more children and young people’s mental health in Scotland. Click here to get to know Sandra.

Tomiwa Folorunso, Communications Consultant

Tomiwa is Tiny Changes’ Digital Consultant. She’s behind our social media and website, she creates content (like this post) and supports the Tiny Changes team with her digital and communication expertise.

Click here to read more about Tomiwa.

Harriet Brampton, Press

Harriet is the Tiny Changes press lead. If you see or hear our charity on TV, radio, a magazine or podcast, Harriet made it happen. Click here to read more about Harriet and her role.

Wavemakers

We are building a network of young volunteers and activists under 30 to make sure that young people are at the heart of all of our work. Sign up by emailing info@tinychanges.com or sending us a DM.

Be part of something special

We do not underestimate the challenge that lies ahead. We live in a fast-changing and uncertain world and we continue to learn as we listen to your stories and ideas. Scott left us such an incredible legacy of hope for a better future, there is much work to do and we can’t do it without you. This is the beginning of our journey and we want you to be a part of that by helping us spread the word, raise money, share your stories, and demand change. We all want to make a difference and together our tiny changes can have a much bigger impact.

We are armed with the past and a will and a brick. Together, we’ll make tiny changes to earth.

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